Forensic services head shot dead at auditing firm’s offices - Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo director murdered

Lawrence Moepi, the Director of Forensic Services at SizweNtsalubaGobodo, was described by many as a true expert in his field. With over 12 years of experience in forensic accounting and investigations, Lawrence led many investigations for both public and private sector clients.
From the outset, Lawrence Moepi had a clear vision of what he wanted from his career. His professional journey began when he achieved a B Com (Hons) in Chartered Accountancy at the University of Pretoria in 1997. He joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2001 and was made Director by 2010. Duties that he carried out included the development of client relationships, the planning and conducting of forensic investigations and the mentoring of staff members.

Mail & Guardian

Auditing firm director shot dead in apparent hit
18 OCT 2013 20:07 SAPA



Lawrence Moepi, the director of forensic services at an auditing firm, has been shot dead at the company's office. (Gallo)
The director of forensic services at auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo was shot dead at the company's office in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Friday morning, the company said.

The company named him as Lawrence Moepi, and said the firm would do everything in its power to aid the police's investigation into his killing.

According to a statement on the firm's website, Moepi had worked closely with the police's commercial crime unit and the now defunct Directorate of Special Operations, known as the Scorpions.

In his capacity as PricewaterhouseCoopers forensic services director Moepi testified in the fraud trial of former Scorpions official Geoffrey Ledwaba.

Constable Ndivhuwo Mulamu confirmed a man was shot dead in the area but could not immediately provide further details.

eNCA reported that Moepi was followed to his workplace by men in a VW Golf and shot dead as he got out of his car on Friday morning.

Police were investigating the motive as nothing was stolen from Moepi.

Business Day Live reported that he had been appointed to work on the probe into the country's multibillion-rand arms deal.

SizweNtsalubaGobodo executive chairperson Nonkululeko Gobodo praised Moepi.

"Lawrence was an inspirational leader and his insight, wisdom, and talent will be sorely missed," he said in a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this extremely difficult time." – Sapa

After the Party is the explosive story of the power struggles dominating South African politics and a crucial analysis of the ANC's record in power. Andrew Feinstein, a former ANC member of parliament, recounts how Mandela's successor Thabo Mbeki repressed debate within the party, imposed his AIDS denialism on government, refused to criticize Mugabe's rule in Zimbabwe and stopped an investigation of a multi-billion-dollar arms deal that was tainted by allegations of high-level graft. Feinstein shows how this infamous deal epitomises all that is rotten at the heart of the ANC. Investigating the payment of up to $200 million worth of bribes, he reveals a web of concealment and corruption involving senior politicians and officials, and figures at the very highest level of South African politics.

With an insider's account of the events surrounding the contentious trial of South Africa's colourful President, Jacob Zuma, and the ongoing tragedy in Zimbabwe, After the Party has been acclaimed as the most important book on South Africa since the end of apartheid.





EWN
Police have confirmed a director at auditing firm Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo has been killed.
Eyewitness News 18/10/2013

JOHANNESBURG – A director of the Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo auditing firm has been shot and killed in a suspected hit in Houghton, north of Johannesburg.

It’s understood at least four people opened fire on the man this morning in the firm’s parking lot.

The suspects apparently then fled without taking anything.

Gauteng police’s Carol Mulalo says, “Unfortunately the person has been declared dead on the scene. Police are still following up the information at the moment and we hope to make an arrest sometime soon.”

(Edited by Tamsin Wort)



After the Party

In his book Feinstein alleges:
That former defence minister Joe Modise received more than R10-million from a variety of bidders;
That a report submitted by Scorpions investigators recommended that arms deal corruption involving the ANC itself should be investigated. This was driven by a number of factors, Feinstein writes, including "trips that the party's treasurer general, Mendi Msimang, made to Switzerland to meet the successful bidders";

That Italian submarine bidders Fincantiere were told they had won the contract, but were informed later that they had been dropped in favour of the Germans. They were offered the chance to "better the Germans" via a payment of $15-million in bribes.

Feinstein points out that this is the same sum under investigation by the German authorities, in relation to an amount allegedly solicited by South Africa's former chief of acquisitions, Chippy Shaik. Shaik has denied the allegation.
Feinstein also contradicts public claims by senior government figures that there was no attempt to interfere with the probe into the arms deal once Parliament had authorised a joint investigation team (JIT).

He writes: "I was told by someone from the JIT about a meeting with the president at which they… were told who they could and could not investigate."

Elsewhere he claims: "It was made clear to investigators that a shadowy financier close to Mbeki and Zuma who has played an ongoing role in financing the ANC, was off limits."

He notes: "For instance, the charge sheet for the arrest of Schabir Shaik was drawn up to charge both Shaik and Zuma. When presented to Bulelani Ngcuka, he is alleged to have responded: 'I will charge the deputy president only if my president agrees.'"

Recounting how he was hauled before the party's top brass after Parliament had authorised its own investigation, Feinstein writes: "I was given a brief opportunity to try to explain the prima facie evidence we had and the process we were following.

"Within a few minutes Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad had launched into a ferocious diatribe, spluttering 'Who the fuck do you think you are, questioning the integrity of the government, the ministers and the president?' Pointing aggressively at me, he shouted that we should simply withdraw the resolution."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Home National Africa World Opinion Markets Economy Business Companies Personal Finance Life Sport
Business / Financial Services


Forensic services head shot dead at auditing firm’s offices
BY STAFF WRITER, OCTOBER 18 2013, 14:53



Lawrence Moepi of SizweNtsalubaGobodo

THE head of accounting and auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo’s forensic services division, Lawrence Moepi, was shot and killed in his car on Friday morning when he arrived at the firm’s Houghton offices.

The firm remained mum on Friday about a possible motive for the murder.

He was shot and killed in his car between 9am and 10am at the firm's offices in Houghton Johannesburg. A spokesperson for the firm said media reports suggesting that it was a hit remained “speculation” at this stage.

No arrests have been made and members of the police were still on the scene by midday. The motive for the killing was still unclear.

SizweNtsalubaGobodo said in a statement the matter was under police investigation and it would support them in the ongoing investigation.

Nonkululeko Gobodo, executive chairwoman of SizweNtsalubaGobodo, said on Friday the firm and its staff were extremely shocked and saddened by the news.

“Lawrence was an inspirational leader, and his insight, wisdom and talent will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this extremely difficult time,” she said.

Moepi had more than 14 years’ experience, nine of which were in forensic accounting and investigations. His expertise included testifying in court and internal disciplinary proceedings as an expert witness on forensic accounting and investigation.

While working at PwC, he was responsible for forensic projects in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. He was an engagement partner on numerous fraud investigations at both public and private sector clients.

Moepi had also been appointed by the auditor-general to be part of the team investigating the strategic arms procurement packages.

He joined SizweNtsalubaGobodo in April 2010 to lead the forensic services practice.

Moepi was married and had two children.